Engine, pump, meter, and the like



July 19, 1938. F. G. FOSTER Er Al. 2,124,140

ENGINE, PUMP. METER, AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 18, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l @firme/'Vir F. G. FOSTER E T AL July 19, 19,38.

ENGINE. PUMP. METER. AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18. 1936 frans/va' l y A |l|..l,|/LL|. llll li l .'vHHHI 4L\ UH: ...HU .w 59-( :1. 1 .5 5 EL... .E F415,..- E \\n|lH.!I. .III\I..|.,.+IIU a 4 r-. IIIIIIIIIIHJ-I l I I i Il July 19, 1938 F. G. FOSTER ET AL 2,124,140

ENGINE. PUMP, METER, AD THE LIKE Filed Aug. 18, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 n I if In/5 TTONE/V Patented July 19, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,124,140. ENGINE, PUMP, METER, AND THE LIKE Frank Geden Foster, Doncaster, and Laurence Joseph Lambe, Hampstead, LondomEngland Application August 1s, 1936, serial Nu. .96,684

nr Great Britain August 1s, 193s 6 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to engines, pumps and I meters with more especial reference to those comprising a casing having a cylindrical wall, side walls and an intermediate crescent-shaped wall projecting from one of said side walls and forming with the cylindrical wall a piston chamber, .inlet and outlet ports to said chamber, a rotor mounting pistons which traverse said chamber during the working of the engine, and an eccentrically mounted rotating seal member having pockets in its periphery for thereceipt of the pistons with circular peripheral portions joining thel pockets and isolating the inlet and outlet ports one from the other.

In engines of this character, the pressure on the delivery side produces a diametrical thrust tending to force the rotating parts in the direction of the suction side and resulting in unbalanced operating conditions, and one object of the present invention is to provide a construction of engine, pump or meter wherein the pressures on the rotating elements are more uniformly balanced. According to one phase the invention comprises furnishing the pockets of the rotating seal member with ports opening up communication with the interior cylindrical or normal bearing surface of the rotating seal whereby to obtain substantial equalization of-the pressures prevailing at each face thereof. I

Preferably, the bearing or abutment upon which the rotating seal revolves is of large diameter to reduce, as far as possible, the area of the rotating seal subject to the unbalanced delivery pressure, a convenient form of bearing being provided by an annular abutment with the rotating seal formed as a cage thereabout so as to have an inner surface bearing on the annular abutment and a part-cylindrical flange rotating nominally clear of the abutment.

Further to` balance the delivery pressure at the face of the seal in addition to the ports opening up connection between the seal pockets and the interior cylindrical or normal bearing surface of the rotating seal, extra ports or conduits are furnished connecting each pocket of the seal member respectivelywith a diametrically opposite ex'Q4 ternal bearing surface, thereby to augment the area under pressure available to balance the wanted diametrical thrust.

` In an embodiment ofpumpl according to patent specification No. 1,994,397 adapted for pressure equalization by the present invention,` the rotating seal is formed as a dual annulus'or collar, the

two parts of which are concentric and connected (Cl. 10S- 125) vby a central radial web, and the inner annulus providing inner and outer bearing surfaces on a central journal or abutment appropriate for the purpose.

This journal or abutment conveniently com- 6 prises a bearing pin detachably, and it may be adjustably, borne in one side wall, preferably the removable cover of the engine casing, the head of the bearing pin within the casing being furnished with a cylindrical cup-shaped abutment, and a similar oppositely disposed cup-shaped abutment being formed preferably integrally with the aforementioned side wall or cover.

The inner annulus or collar of the rotating seal occupies the annular space between the bearing pin and the circumferential walls of the opposed cup-shaped abutments, the, space between the ends of-'such opposed walls being occupied by the aforementioned radial web joining the inner and outer annuli of the rotating seal.

As will be appreciated, for ready assembly, the bearing pin is insertable and withdrawable from the inner side of the removable cover and the arrangement has the advantage not only of increasing the bearing surfacesand consequently the area available for balancing purposes, but also provides a bearing for the rotating seal the axial dimension of which may coincide with that of the seal, thereby eliminating overhang and any tendency of the seal to rock or vibrate during the working of the engine.

' Where the ports opening up communication between the pockets of the rotating seal and the bearing surface on the central pin are provided, these occupy a position centrally of the pockets and pass inwardly through the radial web, the ports or conduit according to the invention being separate and distinct therefrom and opening communication between the` pocket at one side of the seal and the external bearing surface of the inner annulus at theopposite side.

To this end, recourse is had to grooves on the inner surface of the smaller annulus, which grooves are closed and isolated one from the other by a removablebush, it may be of bronze, which is slid within the annular member and secured against movement therein to form the bearing proper turning on the central pin. I

The invention will further be described with reference to the accompanying explanatory drawings which illustrate two embodiments by way of example and in which Figs. 1 to 5 show one embodiment of three piston liquid pump or engine,l Fig. 1 being a longitudinal section, Fig. 2, a cross section, Fig. 3, an end view-of the rotating seal, 55'

Fig. 4, a section thereof, and Fig. 5, a plan, while Fig. 6 is a longitudinal detail section of one unit of a dual pump or engine with the rotors oppositely arranged to provide axial balance.

Referring now to the drawings but rst more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 as in the aforementioned patent specification No. 1,994,397, the engine or pump comprises a casing generally designated I having a cylindrical wall 2, side walls 3 and 4 and an intermediate crescent-shaped wall 5 projecting from the side wall 3 and forming with the cylindrical wall 2 a piston chamber 6. 1 is a rotor mounting pistons 8, 9 and I0 which traverse the piston chamber 6 during the working of the engine, and II generally designates a rotating seal member mounted on a pin I2 eccentrically disposed in relation to the axis of the rotor shaft I3, the seal member II having pockets I4, I5 and I6 for the receipt of the pistons, 9 and I0 re'- spectively with circular peripheral portions I1, I3 and I9 joining the pockets and isolating the inlet and outlet ports 20 and 2| one from the other bynominal contact on the one hand with the inner circular face 22 of the crescent-shaped wall 5, and on the other hand by nominal contactwith an arcuate recess 23 providedin the cylindrical wall 2 of the engine or pump.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the main casing I is a cup shaped member flanged to engage a second casting 24 which constitutes the bearing for the rotor shaft I3 and which has a circular recess on its front face 25 receiving the rotor 1, Moreover, the flange face of the casing I is formed with dowels or a circular rib 26 co-operating with a recess or recesses in the front face 25 of the casting 24 correctly to position the casing which is secured by bolts 21 with its circular cylindrical wall 2 concentric with the axis of the rotor shaft I3.

Synchronized rotation between the rotor 1 and seal II is effected by a crank -pin connection between these latter as in the aforementioned specification. A preferred form of crank connection -is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, and it will be noted that the seal member II is bored through to provide a long bearing for each crank pin '23. 29 is a collar formed integrally on each pin 28 and recessed in the face of the rotor 1 the recess providing a bearing surface for the collar which bearing surface is increased or augmented by a shouldered pin 30 secured in the rotor 1 and having an enlarged circular boss 3| supporting the internal diameter of the collar 29. 'I'he collar, which during the working of the engine and the transmission of the drive from the rotor 1 to the seal II rotates, is thus furnished both with an internal and an external bearing surfacegiving approximately double the bearing area which would otherwise be obtained.

The pin I2 bearing the rotating seal lI is mounted in the casing I and carries a removable end plate 35, which takes up the wear consequent on the rotation of the seal II between it and the front face o'f the rotor 1, while substantial equalization or balance of the pressures prevailing upon the rotating seal during the working of the engine is obtained'by means of the arrangements now to bedescribed with more particular reference to Figs. 2, 3,44 and 5.

The port arrangements for each pocket I4, l5 and I6 to obtain substantial equalization of the pressures are facsimiles of each other andthe same reference numeralsare given to the corresponding ports for each pocket.

As will be seen more clearly from Figs. 2 and 4,

the removable end plate 35 is formed with an i annular flange 36 projecting within the rotating seal I I, a corresponding oppositely directed ange 31 being formed on a plate or head 40 at the inner end of the bearing pin I2. An annular cavity is thus formed between the flanges 36 and 31 and the bearing surface of the pin I2, the rotating seal having an inner sleeve 4I within this cavity which sleeve is connected to the main body of the seal by a radial web 42 passing outwardly between the annular ilanges 36 and 31. In this manner the bearing surface about which the seal rotates is considerably augmented and as will be appreciated comprises (l) the portion. o f the bearing pin I2encircled 'by the sleeve 4I, (2) the external cylindrical surfaces of the flanges 36 and 31, and (3) the internal cylindrical surfaces of these flanges 36 and 31.

43 is a bush of phosphor-bronze or other appropriate bearing material inserted within the sleeve 4I to bear on -the -pin I2 being fixed for rotation with the sleeve by' means of a grub screw 44. 'I'he base of each seal pocket I4, I5 or I6 is formed centrally with a radial port or conduit 45 passing inwardly through the radial web 42 and through the bush 43 to the bearing surface of the latter member on the central pin I2, a shallowcavity 46 being cut in the bearing surface of the bush as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 which cavity is thus' at all times under the same pressure conditions as those prevailing in the pocket.

In the base of each pocket laterally of the port 45 further ports 41 and 48 are provided and communicate respectively with arc-shaped shallow channels 49 and 50 cut on the inner surface of the seal in the area thereof bearing respec? tively upon the external cylindrical faces of the flanges 36 and 31.

Delivery pressure, to which the area of the vrotating seal II open to the delivery port 2I is thrust, equalization of the lateral pressure prevailing upon the seal may be had by recourse to the inner bearing surfaces of the anges 36 and 31 aforementioned to which end each pocket is furnished with a port 5I to a duct extending inwardly in the central plane of the seal to reach the inner surface of the sleeve 4I and there connect with a groove 52 cut in the surface of the bush 43. From the lgroove 52 circumferential grooves 53 extend around the outer surface of the bush 43 and communicate with a cavity 54 shown more clearly in Fig. 4 from which branch further ducts 55 and 56 in the inner sleeve 4I of the rotor to arcuate channels 51 and 58 on the external 'bearing surface thereof. By means of the ducts and grooves 5I, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 the pressure conditions prevailing at one surface of the rotating seal are communicated to a diametrically opposite zone on the internal bearing area of the annular flanges 36 and 31 so that complete diametric pressure balance of the seal member II can be had if desired.

The pockets I4, I5 and I6 in the rotating seal II are so shaped not only freely to receive their respective pistons 8, 9 and I0 but also to remove any likelihood of a body of liquid being trapped between the faces of the piston and the pocket wall which it will be noted is formed with a shallow recess 59 extending across the base of each pocket and from which the ports 45, 41 and 48 debouch. l l

'I'he delivery pressure not only'produces a diametric thrust as aforementioned, but also where an overhung piston carrying rotor such as 1 is utilized an axial thrust pressing such rotor. into frietional contact with the adjacent side wall of the casing and according to the present invention means are provided for removing this objection and effecting equalization of pressure at both faces of the piston carrying rotor 1.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, between each pair of pistons the rotor 1 is furnished Awith a port or aperture 32 opening up communication between the piston chamber 6 at the front face of the rotor and shallow pressure equalizing cavities 33 of segmental form at the rear face of the rotor 1 the area of each cavity 33 corresponding to the superficial area at the front of the piston exposed to delivery pressure. By this arrangement any variation in the pressure prevailing within the piston chamber or at the front face of the rotor is`communicated through the portsor apertures 32 in the rotorl 1 to the cavities 59 at its rear face the rotor thus operating under conditions of axial balance.

The cavities 59 need not be more than g1g in depth and since the remainder of the rear face of the rotor 1 is at and in nominal contact with the side wall 4 of the. casing, there is an adequate sealing surface eliminating any likelihood of leakage between the suction and delivery ports Y 2U and 2| across the face of the rotor.

An alternative mode of obtaining axial balance is by arranging two pumps or engines on said shaft back to back or with their rotors oppositely arranged and an embodiment of this character is illustrated in Fig. 6.

Referring now to Fig. 6, 6I designates the casing of an electric motor or prime mover, 62 the power shaft thereof and 63 an extension casing mounting the pump comprising a cover I at tached to the extension casing 63 by' bolts 21 in a manner similar to that illustrated in the preceding gures.

The main pump componentsare also similar to those previously illustrated and are designated by the same reference numerals but the rotor shaft 64 which forms an axial extension of the power shaft 62 is carried in ball bearings 65 mounted Within the extension casing 63 immediately in rear of the rotor 1.

- Moreover, as a duplicate pump is mounted on the opposite end of the shaft 62 the pumps axially balance each other and special provision therefore by means of the ports 32 and cavities 33 of the first embodiment is superfluous.

A further force creating unbalanced pressure is the torque required in rotating the pistons 8, 9 and I0 and impelling the liquid through the delivery port 2| which torque, since the rotor 'is overhung, will react within `the shaft bearings in rear of the rotor tending to cause wear thereat.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig.- 6, however, this tendency is eliminated or substantially reduced by successively opening the areas on the shaft which will be subject to wear to the delivery pressure `by means of ports 66, 61 and'68 so disposed and arranged that in the working of the pump the bearing areas successively accommodating the torque reaction are in turn and appropriately opened to delivery pressure so that wear on the bearings is substantially reduced and rendered uniform over the whole area thereof.

In a three piston pump such as those illustrated` there will be three equi-spaced .shaft grooves 81, 68, each 90 behind its respective piston 8, 9 or I0 in the direction of rotation, so'thatv where rotation in both directions may be required, two efective sets of grooves 68 are necessary.

To this end in Fig. 6 there is provided on the bearing pin I2 an extension 10 carrying a ported- 'sleeve 69 within and co-axially of the rotor shaft a pipe (not shown) and through the supportedvv sleeve 69 to the'appropriate balancing grooves 61, 68 on the rotor shaft.

.The grooves 61 are on the rotor shaft proper 64 and the grooves 68 on the surroundingtubular extension 12 of the motor shaft 62.

15 is a cup-shaped member fixed for rotation with the shaft 64 by a cotter pin 16, and encircling a sleeve 11 on the casing 63. In the'working of the pump any fluid under pressure which may leak along the rotor shaft 64 reaches circumferential cavities 18 in the sleeve 11 and is there retained by the packing gland 19, so that a fiuid bearing for the rotor shaft 64 is virtually obtained.

is a circumferential groove formed round the rotor 1 inthe extension 63 or the casing I which groove is connected to the delivery side of the pump so that the rotor similarly floats in a bath of liquid under pressure.

Reverting now to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, shallow troughs or grooves 88 simultaneously applied to the respective shallow -troughs 88 whereby to assist in diametrically balancing the rotor.

Moreover, .it will be understood that although in the foregoing description mention has particularly been made of the access of the delivery pressure via the ports to the balancing cavities,

fluid under pressure is not trapped therein but, during the working of the pump, the ports successively open the cavities also to suction after an intermediate sealing period.

Lastly, in place of the three pistons 8, 9 and I 0 illustrated, the rotor may be furnished with any appropriate number thereof, with corresponding pockets in the rotating seal II.

By the present invention an improved engine, pump or meter is obtained in which the working fluid is able to exercise a lubricating effect on the wearing surfaces, and which for use as a deep well or similar. pump may be combined with a squirrel-cage. electric motor. in a totally enclosed casingA without need lfor packing glands.

What we claim is:-

1. An engine, pump or meter comprisinga,

casing having a cylindrical wall, side walls and an intermediate crescent shaped wall projecting from one of said side Walls and forming with the cylindrical wall a piston chamber, inlet and outlet ports to said chamber, a rotor mounting pistons which traverse said chamber during the working of the engine and a rotating seal member', having pockets for said pistons, a bearing for said rotating seal member, projecting from said one of the side walls eccentrically of the rotor, said seal member being formed as a dual' annulus or collar about said bearing and being ported to open communication between the pockets therein and the adjacent surfaces of the bearing.

2. An engine, pump or meter, according to claim l, wherein the adjacent surfaces of the bearing are formed with shallow cavities successively receiving the medium under pressure through the ports in said rotating seal thus to counteract the diametric thrust exerted by the delivery pressure on the rotating seal member.

3. An engine, pump or meter comprising a casing having a cylindrical wall, side walls and an intermediate crescent-shaped wall .projecting from one of said side walls and forming with the cylindrical wall a piston chamber, inlet and outlet ports to said chamber, a rotor mounting pistons which traverse said chamber during the working of the engine, and an eccentrically mounted rotating seal member having pockets for said pistons formed as a dual annulus or collar, the two parts of which are concentric and connected by a central radial web, the inner annulus providing both inner and outer b earing surfaces and said radial web being ported to open communication between the pockets therein and thelinner and outer bearing surfaces to balance the diametric thrust on the rotating seal member.

4. An engine, pump or meter according to claim 3 including a bearing for the rotating seal member comprising a central journal for the inner bearing surface of the inner annulus and two cup-shaped or flanged bearing members on said journal projecting between the annular portions of the seal member and providing an augmented bearing surface both externally of the inner annulus and internally of the outer annulus with ports in the seal member opening communication between the pockets and diametrically opposite bearing surfaces internally of the outer annulus further to balance the diametric thrust on the rotating seal member.

5. An engine, pump or meter according to claim 3 wherein a bearing bush of bronze or other appropriate material is interposed between the seal member and its journal for rotation with the seal member and is ported or grooved to pass fluid urrder pressure to cavities on the inner surface of the bush, which thus respond to the varying pressure for balancing purposes. g

6. An engine, pump or meter according to claim 1 wherein the rotor is furnished between the pistons with ports opening up communication between the piston chamber at the front face of the rotor and shallow pressure equalizing cavities of segmental fori-n provided in the rear face of the rotor.

FRANK GEDEN FOSTER. LAURENCE JOSEPH LAMBE. 

